Hand writing versus Keyboard Writing: Effect on Word Recall

Abstract

This study determined how writing style affected people's recall and recognition of words. The three writing techniques used were handwriting using a pen on paper, typing on a conventional laptop keyboard, and typing on an iPad touch keyboard. A properly counterbalanced within-subjects experimental design was used, and 36 females between the ages of 19 and 54 participated. In this study, participants were given a wordlist and directed to use one of three distinct writing modalities to record words that were read aloud to them. For this study, the wordlist paradigm was applied. A person's memory for words typed using handwriting, a standard keyboard, and a virtual iPad keyboard was tested using oral free recall and recognition. For the analysis of the data, non-parametric statistics were used. Following analyses revealed that participants' free memory of words written in the handwriting condition was considerably higher than that of both keyboard writing conditions for the free recall measure. The findings demonstrate an all-encompassing influence of the writing medium. The findings also reveal that participants' free recall of terms written in handwriting was much better. There was no obvious effect of writing mode in the recognition condition. This shows that handwriting may have unique cognitive benefits that may not be completely retained while writing on a keyboard, especially concerning word memory components. One of these advantages might be word recall. The implications of the study's findings on cognition and education are investigated.